
The best and worst cards for foreign cash withdrawals have been revealed by TotallyMoney, shaming those that charge up to £4.99 in fees to withdraw the equivalent of £100 from an overseas cash machine or 23% extra on purchases with plastic.
Alistair Douglas, TotallyMoney’s CEO, said that with the right choices, it is possible to avoid both cash withdrawal fees and charges on purchases.
“Whether you’re buying a drink après-ski or taking some cash out to cover dinner, double check how much your bank is charging you,” he advised, adding that if your holiday is a little while away, you still have time to pick a new account.
“Most current accounts are quick and easy to open, so don’t be put off opening one ahead of going on holiday. Once complete, you can then dedicate the new card to travelling, and depositing your holiday money straight into it might help you budget,” he said.
Top of the travel pops
Douglas’ tips for the best cards for travellers include the following:

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Debit cards from your bank account
Chase: The Chase card won’t charge you for foreign purchases or ATM withdrawals – up to £500 per day and up to £1,500 per month. And as an added bonus, you can earn up to £180 in cashback on your spending in the first year.
Starling: Starling was voted the Which? Banking Brand of the Year in 2024, and its current account carries zero fees for spending and lets you withdraw up to £300 per day fee-free.
Monzo: Monzo’s current account comes with no exchange rate markup, but it is a bit more limiting than the Chase and Starling options. That’s because it will let you withdraw a maximum of £400 fee-free every 30 days in the EU and £400 outside it. Anything over will come with a 3% charge.
Credit cards
Barclaycard Rewards: As long as you repay the full statement by the due date, Barclaycard Rewards won’t charge you for making purchases or taking money out of the ATM overseas. And while it’s not a huge bonus, it will also give you 0.25% cashback on spending.
Halifax Clarity: “This is a decent option if you’re only using the card to make purchases. However, once you start taking cash out, you will be charged interest – even if you pay off the balance in full,” said Douglas.
Other options
Currensea: With this product, you connect your existing account and then spend with Currensea. It offers three price plans, and each has different levels of benefits. These include car hire discounts, cashback on accommodation bookings, and even concierge services and airport lounge access.
Revolut (Standard Plan): With Revolut, there’s no markup on exchange rates, and free ATM withdrawals of £200 per 30 days – but there is a 2% charge over this.
Wise: There’s a 0.41% markup on the exchange rate, which is competitive when you consider it’s around 2.75% on most debit and credit cards. You can withdraw up to £200 per month at the ATM, but after that, you’ll be paying 1.75% and 50p per transaction. And watch out for the card delivery fee – it will charge you £7.
Cards and banks with a warning
Meanwhile, if you have any of the following accounts or cards, now might be the time to see if you can apply for a new card or account before you travel, as they have some of the most expensive fees and charges.
TSB: Charges 2.99% plus £1 on debit card purchases if you are outside the European Economic Area.
HSBC: Charges 2.75% plus 2% when you take money out of an ATM with a debit card, with a minimum charge of £1.75 and a maximum of £5.
Virgin Money: Charges 2.99% on credit card purchases abroad, and 5% plus 2.99% when you take money out of an ATM.
Tips for overseas spending
As well as having the right card or account for spending, the following tips can help save you paying fees and splashing out on costs on the slopes and afterwards.
- Avoid taking money out of a cashpoint with a credit card if you are concerned about your rating. Lenders might think you’re cash-hungry, which could hold you back when applying for credit in the future.
- When asked if you’d like to pay in pounds or the local currency, always go local to avoid high conversion fees.